Sudsy’s Sports Shorts

By Tim Sutherland
Sun sports guru
“WE LOVE OUR TIGERS!” They are the heart and soul of our Michigan pro sports teams. From the beginning of the 20th century, when Ty Cobb terrorized American League teams with his hitting and base running, to the present day stars like Justin Verlander and Magglio Ordoñez, we live and die with each Tiger victory or loss. Rarely have we seen an off-season like this past one, with the promise and expectations for the 2008 season at record levels of unprecedented hype.

I am a self-proclaimed diehard Tiger fan, having once run away from home after being promised a visit to Tiger Stadium to see a double-header with the Indians and at the last minute being told we weren’t going — my father realized the games were in Cleveland, not Detroit! I first learned to read at age 5 — the sports section of the Detroit News – for any and every word on my Tigers. I’ve seen around 15 Opening Day games and have scalped tickets to see World Series games. Stormin’ Norman Cash was my all-time favorite Tiger, and I saw him hit a home run over the right field roof in Tiger Stadium. I can still name the entire starting lineup from the 1961 team that won 101 games and still finished second to the Yankees.
So, as the intrepid sports editor of the Glen Arbor Sun, complete with press pass, I attended the 2008 Tiger Caravan stop at Traverse City Central High School this past January, where I had the opportunity to interview some of the Tiger players and coaches, one-on-one, at the media-only press conference preceding the public rally. Far and away the most popular Tiger with rock-star status was the young fireballer Verlander. The first major-leaguer to win rookie-of-the-year, pitch in the All Star Game and the World Series, and hurl a no-hitter all in his first two years, Verlander was like a kid in a candy store while being interviewed. “With the lineup, top to bottom, we can put on the field, we are the team to beat,” he gushed to me when I asked about this year’s team. He could not contain his excitement when talking about Dontrelle Willis. “He is already like my brother, and with his work ethic, character and enthusiasm, the fans in Detroit will love him.” Explaining his no-hitter, he said, “It was amazing! Everyone I meet either tells me they were there or that they watched it. When I got to two outs, I have never been so nervous in my life! The best part was my family and my girlfriend were there, so I got to celebrate that night with them. The other memory I have is how loud the crowd was before that final out — the loudest I have ever heard them.” I asked him about his goals for the year. “Help the team win,” was his answer.
Al Avila, the assistant general manager, was a wealth of information. He was friendly and candid. He is the team expert on scouting and acquiring our many Latin American stars like Miguel Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Ordoñez, and Carlos Guillen. The perceived weakness of the team was the bullpen, so I asked him about it. “We have two guys that people don’t know very much about: Danny Bautista, who we acquired from Colorado and who throws 97-99 mph, and a Dominican right hander named Cruceta, who came over from the Dodgers, and who we feel should be outstanding in middle relief.” Al’s number one key to success for this year’s team: “The starting rotation staying healthy.”
After getting up close and personal with the players and management for interviews, everyone moved into the TC Central High School gymnasium for the pep rally. Verlander stole the show by inviting any kids who had a question to come up and sit with him on the stage. The 500 or so TC area residents enjoyed themselves as each player and management person was introduced and had a chance to say a few words and answer questions from the crowd. The enthusiastic throng delivered round after round of applause, especially to Verlander.
As we go to press here in the middle of May, our Tigers are 9 games under .500. I attended my sixteenth Opening Day game, a loss to the Royals, but there is nothing better than walking into Comerica Park after a long northern Michigan winter to see that incredibly green grass and to feel the passion and love we have for our Tigers. “Hope springs eternal” no matter what the outcome is on the field, because the love of the team is woven into the fiber of this state. Now about 40 games into the season, injuries have played a major part in our slow start. Curtis Granderson, our table-setter, missed the first month, and Willis has been hurt most of the year. We are only about 6 games out of first place, and along with the auto industry, our Tigers will be back!
(Tim was just selected as Coach of the Year for the Northern Michigan Region by the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association. Tim’s first-year program at Traverse City Christian posted a 7-2 match record, and the number 2 doubles pair won the regional.)